how cannabis affects the brain

drochoker

drochoker

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Scans show how cannabis affects brain
Compound may trigger psychosis in some heavy users, scientists say
function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('633135427101200000');LONDON - Brain scans showing how cannabis affects brain function may help explain why heavy consumption of the drug triggers psychosis and schizophrenia in a small number of people, scientists said on Monday.
Psychiatrists are increasingly concerned about the mental health impact of smoking large amounts of modern super-strength marijuana, or skunk, particularly among young people.
Until now, the mechanism by which cannabis works on the brain has been a mystery but modern scanning techniques mean experts can now detect its impact on brain activity.
Professor Philip McGuire and Zerrin Atakan of London’s Institute of Psychiatry said their work using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, showed patients given the active cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) had reduced function in the inferior frontal cortex brain region.
This area is associated with controlling inappropriate emotional and behavioral responses to situations.
“What THC seems to be doing is switching off that part of the brain, and that was associated with how paranoid people became,” McGuire told reporters.
Their research will be presented at a two-day International Cannabis and Mental Health Conference at the Institute of Psychiatry this week.
Similar findings from other teams also highlight the link between THC dose and the risk of schizophrenia-like symptoms, conference organizer Professor Robin Murray said.
“It’s no longer a contentious issue. The expert community, by and large, accepts that cannabis contributes to the onset of psychotic symptoms in general and the severe form of psychosis, schizophrenia,” he said.
Double-strength joints
One reason for the growing problem is thought to be the increasing strength of modern strains of cannabis, which are cultivated to produce the maximum amount of THC.
In recent years, the average THC content of marijuana sold in Britain has doubled to 12 percent from around 6 percent, while in the Netherlands it is about 18 percent, Murray said.
Most users of cannabis still do not have a problem with the drug but a minority, possibly because of genetic factors, are vulnerable to long-term damage from modern skunk -- which Murray says is to old-fashioned dope what whisky is to lager.
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The rise in THC content is linked with a decline in another active ingredient called cannabidiol (CBD), since the two products compete biochemically inside the cannabis plant.
CBD, which reduces anxiety but does not produce the euphoric high of THC, may help offset some of the paranoid feelings.
Markus Leweke of Cologne University said a clinical trial involving 42 patients showed CBD was as effective as the established medicine amisulpride, sold as Solian by Sanofi-Aventis, in treating patients with psychosis.
“It seems there are good guys and bad guys within cannabis,” Leweke said.
Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
 
Contributed by: Hopefull

Also spelled marihuana, the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (cannabis), or the crude drug composed of its leaves and flowers. It is usually dried and crushed and put into pipes or formed into cigarettes (joints) for smoking. The drug—known by a variety of other names, including pot, tea, grass, and weed—can also be added to foods and beverages. Marijuana varies in potency, depending on where and how it is grown, prepared for use, or stored.

The active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is present in all parts of both the male and female plants but is most concentrated in the resin (cannabin) in the flowering tops of the female. Hashish, a more powerful form of the drug, is made by collecting and drying this resin and is about eight times as strong as the marijuana typically smoked in the United States.

Mentioned in a Chinese herbal dating from 2700 BC, marijuana long has been considered valuable as an analgesic, an anaesthetic, an antidepressant, an antibiotic, and a sedative. Although it was usually used externally (e.g., as a balm or smoked), in the 19th century its tips were sometimes administered internally to treat gonorrhoea and angina pectoris.

The effect that cannabis has depends on the strength, how often it's smoked, how recently it was smoked and how the body naturally reacts to the drug.
POSITIVE:
Mood lift
Relaxation, stress reduction
Creative, philosophical or deep thinking...ideas flow more easily
Increased appreciation of music.
Increased awareness of senses(eating, drinking, smell)
Change in experience of muscle fatigue. Pleasent body feel.Increase in body/mind connection.
Pain relief (headaches, cramps)
reduced nausea (used medically for this)NEUTRAL:
Increased appetite, snacky-ness
General change in consciousness (as with many psychoactives)
Tiredness
Blood shot eyes (more common with certain varieties of cannabis and inexperienced users)
Mouth dryness
Interrupts linear memory.
Difficulty following a train of thought.
Cheek, jaw, facial tension (less commonly reported)
NEGATIVE:
Nausea
Coughing, asthma, upper respiratory problems
Difficulty with short-term memory during effects and during periods of frequent use.
Slowness and delayed reactions, especially dangerous when driving or operating machinery.
Racing heart, agitation, and tenseness.
Mild to severe anxiety
Panic attacks at very high doses (usually oral) or in sensitive users
Headaches
Dizziness, confusion
Paranoid & anxious thoughts more frequent
Possible psychological dependence on cannabis
"Mild" withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use in some users. These may last for 1-6 weeks after cessation of use and can include anxiety, anhedonia (reduced experience of pleasure), headaches, general unease/discomfort,difficulty sleeping, and a desire to smoke pot.

In many countries the use and possession of marijuana is illegal. Don't EVER cross a border while in possession of ANY illegal drug.
 
I couldnt listen to NORML's rebuttal about this topic but its there on NORMLS site...maybe someone could listen and report what they have said? GO NORML!
 
yes, i have read more an it increases the possibility of developing schizophrenia, if you have a relative who suffered, you are 10% more likely to develop it than the rest of population, so beware
 
You have to have a type of mental illness already for cannabis to bring it out of you. Cannabis will reveal YOU to YOURSELF. If you get paranoid it's because there is something wrong with you, it could just be because you are tired or hungry but it could also be because you have a mental problem.

Cannabis will give you the tools to make yourself a better person. You just have to accept what it shows you.
 
I believe strong skunk can be dangerous for certain mental problems, but it's also true that people with mental health issues are more likely to become smokers.
 
drochoker said:
[Their research will be presented at a two-day International Cannabis and Mental Health Conference at the Institute of Psychiatry this week]
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thats funny when they find sumthing wrong with canabis they get a conference for it but when peoplle find it cures cancer it gets shut down and they say their not aloud to test it
 
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